News

PolyU develops AI-based screening system for Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic degenerative disease with no cure. Early detection is critical for early intervention to prevent disease progression and to reduce the need for salvage joint replacement surgery.   A team led by Dr Chunyi Wen, Associate Professor of PolyU’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, has developed an artificial intelligence-based KOA screening system that can predict the risk of KOA progression at different time points in the future with an accuracy of 80%. The system won “Global Innovation Awards” at the TechConnect Business Virtual Summit and Showcase 2020.   The system was trained by US Dataset with data of over 10,000 KOA patients. Mr Justin Chan, MPhil student in Biomedical Engineering at PolyU, said the system can predict the risk of KOA with basic information of the patient, such as age and daily habit, plus a medical-related questionnaire of about 20 questions responded by the patient’s family doctor.   Dr Wen noted that under the current hospital flow, new KOA patients have to wait for years for treatment in public hospitals. Their system can provide early diagnosis and therefore reduce the consultation time by up to 90%. The outcome would also aid clinical practitioners to perform efficient triage and construct personalised treatment plans.   Mr Toby Li, also MPhil student in Biomedical Engineering at PolyU, pointed out that the AI system can deepen the collaboration between community medical and clinical systems, as well as improve the management of chronic diseases, and hence an expected reduction of health costs of HK$1.4 billion each year.   The team is currently applying to the Hospital Authority for the use of data of 100,000 KOA patients in Hong Kong, with an aim of enhancing the system’s accuracy to 90%. It is also applying for subsidies from the government to recruit 2,000 people for clinical tests within five years.   Moreover, a mobile application is being developed to measure and record relevant physiological data of the patients regularly, so as to facilitate continuous tracking and self-management of the disease. (Oriental Daily News A13, Hong Kong Economic Times A19, Ta Kung Pao A09) [From Department of Biomedical Engineering]   Related News Articles: 理大研智能預警系統 防膝骨關節炎 [東方日報(Oriental Daily News)] 理大研AI系統 預測膝骨關節炎 開發手機App助記錄數據 監察病情 [經濟日報(Hong Kong Economic Times)] 理大研究奪全球創新獎 助分流患者 膝關節炎AI預警 準確率90% [大公報(Ta Kung Po)] 理大研AI系統評估膝關節炎 有助提升準確度及節省診症時間 [香港01(HK01)]

Transforming with technology - How a technology leader sees changes in the post-pandemic world

Mr Horace Chow Chok-kee Diploma in Computing Studies, Hong Kong Polytechnic (1985) Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, University of Portsmouth, the UK (1989) Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft China Recipient of Distinguished Alumni Award, Department of Computing, PolyU (2014) Chairman, Departmental Advisory Committee, Department of Computing, PolyU (2015 - 2020) From an anxious student who did not know how to log on to a computer, to a veteran of a tech giant, Mr Horace Chow Chok-kee, Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft China, has undergone a dramatic transformation since he first joined Hong Kong Polytechnic (a predecessor of PolyU) more than 30 years ago. For decades, technology has not only shaped Horace, but it has also revolutionised enterprises and changed the daily lives of people across the world. Today, Horace helps his clients get to grips with these changes, guiding them through their digital transformation journeys, and acting as a bridge between technology and ordinary people. From novice to expert Before entering the Polytechnic in the 1980s, Horace did not know anything about computers. “My elder brothers filled out the application form for me, choosing mechanical engineering programmes. I was disobedient. I crossed out their choices and ticked computing studies instead - a subject I knew nothing about,” he remembers. “In the admission test, I was only able to answer questions on language and mathematics, and I left all those relating to computers empty,” he says. Surprisingly, Horace’s application was successful. While his classmates appeared knowledgeable about computers, Horace outshone many of them with his excellent communication and coordination skills. In his second year of the computing studies programme, he managed to master programming skills, gradually developing his interest in the information technology (IT) field. “I feel so blessed to have entered the Polytechnic,” Horace says. “I am always fascinated by PolyU’s signature red brick architecture and beautiful library. It is a landmark in the city. I like the campus which is open and cosy.” Horace’s curiosity to experience life outside of Hong Kong motivated him to pursue further studies in the UK after graduating from the diploma programme. A few years later, he obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Portsmouth. His ability to take on any challenge, anywhere has enabled him to develop a global perspective. Over the past 20 years, he has worked in a number of different countries, such as Japan, Korea, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and India, to name a few. In 2017, his global exposure was further increased when he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft China. Since then, he has been based in Beijing, playing a pivotal role in guiding customers and partners in Mainland China through their digital transformation journeys. Transformation in enterprises Horace’s experience of different countries has left him well adapted to operating in diverse cultures and unexpected working environment. He thinks the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance of adaptability to everyone. “The pandemic changed the way we work and accelerated digital transformation,” Horace says. “For instance, when commuting was considered risky and remote working practices became the ‘new normal’, most of us relied on videoconferencing technologies.” Currently based in Beijing, Horace plays a leading role in the management of Microsoft China’s business. As an advocate of technology, Horace expects remote working arrangements, supported by technology, to remain even once the pandemic has subsided. “Nowadays, nobody can say they do not need technology. Technology is everywhere. Companies see the benefits. The use of technology facilitates innovation, saves time, minimises business travel, and significantly reduces costs. Digital transformation has become a trend in every industry,” Horace explains. In the post-pandemic era, he expects the workplace transformation to continue. “While employers may not meet their staff in person, they will need lots of trust. We will also need to have more one-to-one quality communications with each other, offering a personal touch to complement the remote working model that keeps people apart,” he says. Horace believes being open-minded, having an appreciative attitude and being collaborative are all key attributes to successfully coping with changing working practices. Technology transforms the world With digital transformation spanning across every industry and profession, IT professionals play a key role in bridging the gaps between technology and ordinary people. Horace actively encourages IT students to take on this role in the tech-driven world. In 2015, when he was the General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong, he contributed to his alma mater by setting up the PolyU-Microsoft Smart Computing Laboratory, which provides students with opportunities to integrate their knowledge into practical work. He is also the former Chairman of the Departmental Advisory Committee of the Department of Computing (COMP). His outstanding achievements in career and significant contributions to PolyU were recognised with a COMP Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014. When asked what advice he would give to young graduates, Horace says: “Think global. Know more about what is happening in the world. Be open. Be appreciative. Seek diversified knowledge in areas other than just your own profession. Put your trust in teamwork. When your team shines, so do you.” Horace (front row, fourth from right), a recipient of COMP Distinguished Alumni Award, often visits PolyU and contributes to the University with his expertise. [From Impact x Excel]

PolyU develops highly sensitive, microscopic optical fibre sensors with pioneering biomedical monitoring capability

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has made a breakthrough development in optical fibre sensors, making the advanced railway safety monitoring technologies available for medical surveillance inside the human body. The research team led by Professor Hwa-yaw TAM, Chair Professor of Photonics and Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering at PolyU, developed the novel fibre optic microsensors that are biocompatible, supple and extremely sensitive to very small pressure changes inside the human body. The new sensors open new possibilities for medical applications, from improving surgery precision to providing novel ways of monitoring human body recovery from within the body. Examples include smart cochlear implantation, bone fracture recovery monitoring, or navigation monitoring in cardiac catheterization. Optical fibres are not just for transmission – they are also good sensors for detecting external changes by observing the reflection of the light beams passing through them. There is also growing use of fibre optics technology in medical applications, such as in surgical instrumentation, diagnostic and imaging equipment, or sensor-based wearable medical devices. However, to deploy fibre optic sensing technology for monitoring inside the human body, traditional optical fibres made of glass or plastic have major drawbacks – glass is too stiff and brittle, while traditional plastic fibres tend to absorb water. Furthermore, the optical fibre sensors need to be able to detect very subtle changes for the purpose of medical monitoring. Professor Tam’s team made a critical breakthrough by basing their novel fibre optic sensors on an advanced plastic material, ZEONEX, that solves the problems of glass and traditional plastic. In addition, the new sensor is made more sensitive by adding a side hole running in parallel with the light transmission path inside the optical fibre. The new “Side Hole Polymer Optical Fibre Sensors” are biocompatible and could be made as small as a few micrometres. Their sensitivity to pressure is twenty times that of traditional optical fibre sensors. Professor Tam believes the sensors enable whole new applications for medical monitoring inside the human body not available before. “The new plastic sensors are humidity insensitive, supple and shatter-resistant. They are also chemically inert, biocompatible, and can be made super tiny in size. These unique features make the sensors ideal for integration with medical implants,” Professor Tam said. “The new plastic optical fibre sensors can detect extremely subtle changes even of a difference smaller than 1 per cent of atmospheric pressure – sensitive enough to measure pressure inside the lungs while breathing, which changes by just a few kilopascals,” he added. The research team is currently working with counterparts from Australian and Japanese universities to develop various sensors for medical monitoring applications. For instance, a smart cochlear implant featuring the PolyU tiny sensors could provide critical information about location and force to surgeons in real time during the implantation procedure. The smart cochlear implant will commence in vitro testing at the University of Melbourne and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. PolyU is also working with Monash University researchers to integrate fibre sensors in orthopaedic implants for monitoring bone fracture recovery. The PolyU research team will continue to explore further medical monitoring applications using the new plastic fibre optic sensors, including their use for precise navigation and shape detection in cardiac catheterization. Professor Tam and his team are also working to expand the sensors’ ability to measure other physical or chemical changes like acidity and temperature. “We also seek to develop a sensing network that integrates our sensors with emerging technologies like the wireless Internet-of-Things. The sensing network would be able to give a comprehensive and precise picture of changes inside the human body, thus helping patients around the world via technological innovation,” he said. The “Side Hole Polymer Optical Fibre Sensors” research findings were published earlier this year in Optics Letters by US-based The Optical Society. Part of the jointly developed applications with other universities have already been granted patents. [From PolyU Media Release]   Related News Articles: 理大研光纖傳感器 手術更精準 [經濟日報(Hong Kong Economic Times)]

生物醫學工程範疇廣數理創意強易上手 設計製造儀器解決醫療問題

星島日報 (Sing Tao Daily)

PolyU scholars elected into the Canadian Academy of Engineering

Professor Li CHENG, Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professor Song GUO, Associate Head (Research & Development) of the Department of Computing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) were recently named Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the national institution of Canada that comprises its most accomplished engineers who have expressed their dedication to the application of science and engineering principles. Fellows of the Academy are nominated and elected by their peers. In view of their outstanding contributions to engineering in Canada and around the world, and for their service as role models in their fields and to their communities, Prof. Cheng and Prof. Guo join forty-eight other new Fellows and two new International Fellows from around the world who were elected into the Academy this year. Prof. Cheng has made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the areas of sound and vibration, wave manipulation and structural health monitoring. In addition to many high-quality contributions to science, through his close collaboration with industry his research has had direct impact on solving practical engineering problems. Prof. Guo’s work in cloud computing, edge artificial intelligence, big data and distributed systems has had broad and seminal impact – from the advancement of scientific knowledge to industrial innovation. He has been widely recognized for his pioneering contributions to the resilient management system widely used in post-disaster applications. Prof. Cheng and Prof. Guo will be honoured at the Academy’s Induction Ceremony this October. [From PolyU Media Release]  

PolyU, XJTU, State Grid and HK Electric continue collaboration on the “Belt and Road Advanced Professional Development Programme in Power and Energy” to nurture senior talent for the energy industry

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU); Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU); State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) and The Hongkong Electric Company, Limited (HK Electric) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to extend their joint collaboration in running the “Belt and Road Advanced Professional Development Programme in Power and Energy” (The Programme) for another three years. The Programme aims to nurture senior management talent in power and energy-related fields through diversified, cross-regional, systematic and innovative training schemes to meet the rising demand for talent in the Belt and Road countries and regions, thereby promoting the sustainable development of infrastructure and facilitating economic growth in these countries and regions in line with the Belt and Road strategies of the Nation. This cross-regional and multi-cultural university-industry collaboration programme is the first-of-its-kind in both Mainland China and Hong Kong. The Silk Road International School of Engineering (SRISE) was set up jointly by PolyU and XJTU in 2017, and later partnered with State Grid and HK Electric to organise the first university-industry collaboration programme of this type, with a view to nurturing senior talent for the power and energy industry. The Programme has attracted more than 200 industry professionals from Belt and Road countries/regions, and has generated nearly 5,300 contact hours through talks, seminars and field trips, achieving remarkable results in promoting knowledge exchange among the participants. PolyU, XJTU, State Grid and HK Electric are joining forces again this year by contributing their knowledge, research findings and practical experience in the field of energy, with a view to enhancing technical cooperation and exchange across Belt and Road countries/regions. The renewed collaboration which is set for three more years will focus on short-term training and exchange initiatives. Training programmes will be run by SRISE focusing on two major themes, namely the “Key Technologies of Energy Interconnection” and “Electricity Supply in International Cities”. Various seminars, field trips to energy facilities in the Mainland and Hong Kong as well as sharing sessions will be organised to facilitate learning on cutting-edge energy knowledge and understanding of the latest research findings in the field, as well as promoting sharing and exchange of practical experiences among industry players. The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding was held online in Hong Kong and Mainland China simultaneously. Professor Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU’s President, attended and witnessed the ceremony. He said, “PolyU’s motto is ‘To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind’. It is our mission to support the advancement of society and the economy through teaching and scientific research. PolyU will hence continue to collaborate with other parties in education, research and knowledge transfer to contribute to the development of countries and regions along the Belt and Road.” Professor Xiaohong GUANG, member of Chinese Academy of Science, Dean of the School of Electronic and Information Engineering of XJTU, said, “Over the past three years, we have successfully held three editions of the ‘Belt and Road Advanced Professional Development Programme in Power and Energy’ with the joint efforts of four parties. The tremendous social impact of the programme has not only enhanced mutual understanding and technology sharing, but also deepened the cooperation between industry players, academics and researchers. A training team has also been groomed through this programme. We hope that the renewal of the cooperation agreement will enrich our collaboration further, helping us to make this training programme well-recognised in the industry.” Mr LIU Yunhou, President of the State Grid of China Technology College, also remarked, “With the earnest collaboration between four parties, the ‘Belt and Road Advanced Professional Development Programme in Power and Energy’ has become a university-industry alliance, and a role model for Mainland- Hong Kong collaboration in serving Belt and Road initiatives. I sincerely hope that the four parties will focus on the ‘dual carbon’ goals (note: China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, as pledged by President Xi at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2020), and keep up with the latest developments of power and energy, to launch more well-recognised seminars in a systematic manner. I look forward to the flourishing of our collaboration that brings about greater vitality for the energy sector.” Managing Director of HK Electric, Mr WAN Chi-tin, welcomed the extension of collaboration. He said, “Despite the impact of the pandemic, HK Electric has set a new supply reliability record last year, achieving an impeccable rating of over 99.9999% and unplanned power interruption of less than 0.5 minute on average per customer. To combat climate change, three new gas-fired generating units are expected to come on stream by 2023, while an offshore liquefied natural gas terminal will also be in operation by 2022. By increasing the use of natural gas for power generation, from currently around 50% of total output to around 70% by 2023, we hope to reduce carbon emissions by 40% as compared to the 2005 level. We are happy to share our strategies and carbon reduction experience with our peers from the Belt and Road countries/regions.” The first training programme of 2021 is planned to be conducted online in the fourth quarter of this year. More seminars for senior executives in the power and energy sector as well as exchange sessions for researchers and academics will also be held in the future. [From PolyU Media Release]   Related News Articles: 理大港燈夥內地高校 辦「帶路」育能源人才項目 [文匯報(Wen Wei Po)]  

PolyU contributes to the Nation’s first Mars mission with multidisciplinary research

Two research teams at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) contributed to the Nation’s first Mars exploration project Tianwen-1. By harnessing their extensive experience in the field of aerospace science and technology, as well as their commitment to research excellence, PolyU researchers played a vital role in the Tianwen-1 mission, in collaboration with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). Professor WU Bo helped identify possible landing regions with advanced topographic mapping and geomorphological analysis technologies. Professor YUNG Kai-leung developed a sophisticated space instrument, the “Mars Landing Surveillance Camera (Mars Camera)”, for capturing images of the surroundings of the Red Planet and monitoring the status of the Zhurong Mars rover. The spacecraft for the Tianwen-1 probe comprises an orbiter, a lander and the Zhurong rover, aiming to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one single mission, which is the first such attempt in global aerospace history. The mission aims to obtain scientific exploration data on the Red Planet, and currently, Tianwen-1 has completed orbiting Mars and has successfully landed on a pre-selected landing region on the Utopia Planitia of Mars. The Mars rover Zhurong is also due to begin Martian exploration. Dr LAM Tai-fai, Chairman of Council, PolyU, offered his warmest congratulations to the Nation on the successful soft landing of Tianwen-1. He said, “The Nation has developed an impressive track record in deep space exploration, such as its lunar exploration and lunar sample return missions. This time the Nation begins its planetary exploration journey by setting its sights on Mars for the first time, which further cements China’s advanced space capabilities. We are immensely encouraged that PolyU played a pivotal part in facilitating the Tianwen-1 mission. With extraordinary creativity, perseverance and innovative minds, our researchers will continue to contribute to the well-being of mankind in various scientific fields.” Mr Alfred SIT, Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government, said, “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our Nation on the successful landing of the Nation’s first Mars exploration project. Basic research is the strength of local universities, and the fact that PolyU was invited to participate in another major national space mission with its scientific research capabilities is a clear demonstration of Hong Kong’s exceptional strength in research and innovation. Hong Kong is also a place where many hidden talents emerge, forming an important force in national technological advancement. They will contribute to the Nation’s ‘Megascience’ projects with their expertise. I hope that local universities take advantage of research collaboration opportunities with institutions in the Mainland to create synergies that bring about complementary advantages.” Professor Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU’s President, said, “We sincerely thank our Nation for trusting PolyU and inviting two of our Professors to participate in this national Mars exploration project. We are proud to have the opportunity to once again contribute to a major national aerospace technology mission. Leveraging the achievements of PolyU in the field of aerospace technology, we have decided to increase our support in this area by establishing the University Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations led by Professor Yung Kai-leung. We aim to pool together experts in different fields such as Geology, Architecture, Machinery, Physics, and Remote Sensing to conduct in-depth research in different aspects of aerospace technology. We truly hope that the mission of Tianwen-1 will be a great success and that the world will learn more about the Red Planet.” Mars landing site mapping and evaluation Landing on Mars is a challenging endeavour due to several reasons, such as the complicated Martian surface, the very thin atmosphere as well as possible dust storms. There is also a 5-20 minutes time delay between Mars and Earth communications. It is therefore of paramount importance to select a landing site that is safe and of scientific significance. From 2017-2020, upon invitation by CAST, Professor WU Bo from PolyU’s Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics led a team to carry out global-scale analysis and evaluation to help shortlist three candidate landing regions, namely the Amazonis Planitia, Chryse Planitia, and Utopia Planitia, that are all located within a latitude ranging from 5° - 30°N on Mars. These regions have adequate solar illumination for optimised power generation and moderate temperature, lower elevation for longer deceleration time, and a flat terrain surface for safe landing. The team further conducted detailed topographic and geomorphological mapping and analysis of the candidate landing regions, including their elevations, slopes, rock abundances, crater densities, and geological contexts. As a result of the evaluation, a region in the southern Utopia Planitia, the largest recognised impact basin in the northern hemisphere of Mars, was selected as the target landing region. Some features in the Utopia Basin like extensive sedimentary materials on the surface have been interpreted as morphological indicators of potential water-ice underneath, which are of great scientific interest since they may offer new insights into the existence of life on Mars and the evolutionary history of the Red Planet. Since entering the orbit of Mars on 10 February 2021, the Tianwen-1 probe has collected and sent back a large quantity of sub-meter-resolution images of the target landing region covering an area of about 70km × 180km, which is about 11 times larger than the size of Hong Kong’s territory. Using the high-resolution images from Tianwen-1, Professor Wu and his team generated high-resolution and high-precision 3D digital topographic models of the target landing region using the self-developed integrated 3D mapping model, to analyse the detailed topography and identify large slopes hazardous for landing. To facilitate safe landing and roving on Mars, Professor Wu’s team also developed AI-based techniques for more automated and robust analysis of geomorphological features like craters and rocks from the high-resolution images in a short period of time. Professor Wu said, “With the aid of the AI-based techniques, we analysed over 670,000 craters, over two million rocks, and hundreds of volcanic cones distributed over the target landing region in 1.5 months. We achieved much higher efficiency in the automatic extraction of rocks and craters with about 85% correctness.” From the topographic and geomorphological mapping results, the team successfully identified several landing ellipses for the mission management team to finalise the landing site. Professor Wu felt very honoured to be able to participate in and contribute to the Nation’s Mars exploration project. He said, “The Tianwen-1 mission is a mega project, and we are only a small part of an effort of thousands of people, to support the accomplishments of the mission. All of my team members were fully dedicated to the undertaking over the past months. I am thankful to them for working around the clock to get the task completed on time, yet without comprising accuracy and details.” Mars Landing Surveillance Camera (Mars Camera) With a wealth of experience in developing sophisticated space instruments, Professor Yung Kai-leung, PolyU’s Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, has led a team to undertake the research, design and manufacturing of the Mars Camera since 2017. Thanks to their dedication and perseverance, as well as the support of the University, the team successfully completed and delivered the Mars Camera with the corresponding space qualification experiments in less than three years. The PolyU-developed Mars Camera is located on the outside top surface of the lander platform, for monitoring the landing status, the surrounding environment of Mars and the movements of the Zhurong rover with respect to the unfolding and status of the solar panels and antennae. This information is critical for the successful movement of the Mars rover on the surface of Mars. The Mars Camera is light in weight (around 390g), yet strong and durable enough to withstand the extreme temperature differences of about 150 degrees Celsius experienced during the nine-month journey between Earth and Mars, followed by immediate operation under the extremely low temperatures on the surface of Mars. As the Mars Camera is designed for the lander, it also has to withstand huge impact shocks of 6,200G (i.e. 6,200 times the force of Earth’s gravity). Despite having a wide-angle field of view (a maximum of 120 degrees horizontally and a maximum of 170 degrees diagonal), the Mars Camera has low image distortion. Professor Yung explained, “To capture ultra-wide angle images on Mars for scientific research, the Mars Camera has to have a wide field of vision with low distortion optics within the little allowable payload, but at the same time must also be able to withstand extreme temperature variation, high radiation, mechanical impact and vibration within the little available mass, whereas maintaining high reliability under the extreme space travel environment such as high radiation.” Professor Yung further shared that he was relieved that the PolyU-developed Mars Camera survived the Earth to Mars journey, “It was a real thrill when we learned that Tianwen-1 successfully touched down onto the Martian surface. A photo recently released by the China National Space Administration shows our Mars Camera on the Red Planet, and I am particularly excited to observe from the photo that our Camera remains intact. I look forward to seeing our Mars Camera capturing the spectacular views of Mars and providing images of the unfolding and movement of the Zhurong rover.” [From PolyU Media Release]   Related News Articles: 理大兩團隊獻力火星探測 [香港商報(Hong Kong Commercial Daily)] 設計火星相機 助「天問」探火選着陸點 理大成立航天研究中心 貢獻國家 [大公報(Ta Kung Po)] 細析火星地貌 指路「天問」着陸 理大團隊結合3D測量AI技術評估風險 成功搜索安全降落區 [文匯報(Wen Wei Po)] PolyU lauded for role in Mars mission [中國日報香港版(China Daily Hong Kong Edition )] 香港科研貢獻國家大有可為 [大公報(Ta Kung Po)] 航天五院副院長講述國家航天與港深厚友誼 嫦娥六號探月 港研採樣神器 [大公報(Ta Kung Po)] 與內地科學家手牽手「奔月探火」理大教授容啟亮：為中國航天貢獻「香港力量」 [大公文匯網] 「神舟之父」牽手「理大功臣」 [大公報(Ta Kung Po)] 小小月壤  點燃港人愛國航天夢 [文匯報(Wen Wei Po)] 香江探月問天第一人——記香港理工大學深空探測科學家容啟亮教授 [紫荊雜誌(Bauhinia Magazine)]

1st issue of Enewsletter Vibrant@FENG published

Success of Dyson – Online Meet with Dyson Engineers and James Dyson Award introduction

Video recap available for PolyU members

PolyU wins six prizes at Geneva Inventions Expo

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has excelled in this year’s online special edition of the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo) - Special Edition 2021 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days – Virtual Event. The exhibition is regarded as one of the important annual events in the world devoted exclusively to inventions. PolyU garnered a total of six awards this year, including three Gold Medals and three Silver Medals. Numerous activities around the globe have been disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the daunting challenges, PolyU’s researchers have continued their efforts in research and development as well as in translating research into impactful innovations and applications. Among the six projects the University presented to the judges, two have already been commercialised through PolyU-supported start-ups led by our researchers. The awards won by the University at this event not only demonstrate the professionalism and strength of PolyU’s researchers, but also motivate them to further excel in their academic and scientific pursuits, enabling PolyU to push the boundaries of technological innovation and to generate a far-reaching impact on our community and the world. The winning projects of PolyU cover a wide range of applications, including healthcare, environmental monitoring, smart cities, and automotive safety, thus showcasing the University’s distinguished capabilities and accomplishments in innovation and technology. The six projects are (project details in Appendix):   Project Principal Investigator Awards CareCoatexTM: A Biomaterial-based Core-Shell Particles for Safe and Effective Antibacterial and Antiviral Applications Prof. Pauline Pei LI, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Co-founder of Grand Rise Technology Limited (a PolyU-supported startup) Gold Medal Smart City Platform: A Comprehensive System for Spatial Data Infrastructure Prof. John Wenzhong SHI, Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics Gold Medal Smart Monitoring System for Urban Tree Management Sr Dr Charles Man-sing WONG, Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics Gold Medal Liverscan: Palm-sized Real-time B-mode Ultrasound Imaging Guided System for Liver Fibrosis Assessment Ir Prof. Yongping ZHENG, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Founder of Eieling Technology Limited (a PolyU-supported startup) Silver Medal A Smart All-electric Antilock Braking System (ABS) Prof. Eric Ka-wai CHENG, Department of Electrical Engineering Silver Medal Biomimicking Photocrosslinkable Nanocomposite Bone Graft Dr Xin ZHAO, Department of Biomedical Engineering Silver Medal   The Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days – Virtual Event, held from 10 to 14 March, attracted about 600 exhibitors from more than 20 countries/regions. It was organised under the patronage of the Swiss Federal Government, the State and the City of Geneva as well as the World Intellectual Property Organisation. For details, please visit the event organiser’s official website: www.inventions-geneva.ch.